The two-day meeting was co-chaired by Balla and Marco Tarquinio, head of the European Parliament’s delegation to the committee.

“Three years after the formal opening of accession talks, Albania is in the most advanced phase of its integration process,” Balla said in his opening remarks. “In less than a year, our country has opened five of the six negotiation clusters – including those on rule of law, the internal market, competitiveness, the green agenda and foreign policy.”

He highlighted progress in judicial reform, anti-corruption efforts and alignment with EU common policies, describing justice reform as “the cornerstone” of Albania’s European path.

Under the EU’s Reform and Growth Plan, Albania has implemented 21 of 41 measures and is considered the most advanced country in the Western Balkans in meeting European Commission benchmarks, Balla said.

He added that the parliamentary commissions on electoral and territorial reform, adopted by consensus, showed “the European spirit that must guide Albanian politics.”

He also noted Albania’s full alignment – 100% – with the EU’s foreign and security policy, saying the country “stands shoulder to shoulder with its partners in every strategic decision.”

/u.sh/